With much of the focus on Panthers prospects such as Erik Gudbranson, Quinton Howden, Jacob Markstrom, Jonathan Huberdeau and others, it seems that John McFarland has been overlooked.

However, he is coming off a stellar season in the OHL, especially after he was traded from Sudbury to Saginaw where he notched 28 points in 37 games, including 19 goals. He could be vying for a spot on this year’s Panthers squad, but I still think Howden is closer to being NHL-ready.

HARVEY FIALKOV, a tennis-playing sportswriter who grew up in Long Island following the dynastic Islanders, is the new Panthers beat writer for the Sun Sentinel and looking forward to writing about the best professional sports team in Broward County.